Kurt Suzuki is expected to make his Nationals debut tonight against the Marlins.

It's a rare event when a major-league club starts three different catchers in two days, but such is life for the Nationals this weekend. After Jesus Flores and Sandy Leon caught yesterday's doubleheader, the newly acquired Kurt Suzuki is expected to make his debut behind the plate for tonight's game against the Marlins.

Suzuki will be catching the Nationals' most-consistent pitcher, Jordan Zimmermann, who is shooting for his 20th quality start in 22 tries and his 22nd consecutive start of at least six innings. Zimmermann's outing was pushed back a day because of right shoulder inflammation, but he threw his regular bullpen session on Thursday and said his arm felt great.

Mark Buehrle gets the nod for the Marlins, trying to duplicate his dominant start over the Nationals last month in Miami.

We need to start hammering some of these non-contending teams. It would be a good sign to get these last two games against the Marlins. I don't know if I would have started a new catcher on a JZim start…he's been on such a streak I would have gone with Flo.GO NATS!!!!

Off to my 4th game in 6days. Looking forward to watching Suzuki make his Nats debut.Doubt if Davey will go with an all right handed outfield but he could now. Moore, Werth, Morse would give us 3 big boppers.Go Nats!

NatsLady, I would trade for King Felix for the chance at 3 World Series rings. I would do a Greinke type of deal: Detwiler, Espinosa, Storen, and an outfielder and another top 10 prospect.Seattle wants to get out from under $19.5 million next year.

Bill Ladson with a scathing tweet about Flores play calling. Backs up what I have said after Flores took over that certain pitchers didnt want him and Davey said he didn't do set battery mates.Still believe Flores is a very capable backup. The mentoring that Ramos got under Pudge is worth its weight in gold.

Some surprising tweets from @washingnats"There were people in the #Nats organization who felt Jesus Flores cared more about his offense than his game calling.""The #Nats were not happy with the way Jesus Flores called a game behind the plate. He often went against the game plan."

Cameron, thanks for the quotes from the tweets. Much appreciated. Have to wonder if the other players would be dishing on Flores if he had handled the news more professionally. Suzuki has the reputation of being not just a good clubhouse guy, but a superb clubhouse guy who makes extraordinary efforts to help his teammates and be accessible to the media and the fans. Hopefully those qualities will allow him to smooth out this rocky introduction.

For King Felix, I'd put up with Walters or anyone peric wants at SS for another month if that's what it takes. A top 4 rotation of King Felix, Stras, Gio, and JZnn would be historic. He's a quantam leap better than Greinke.

I think Mr Flores has had a whole lot of bad luck. Rule 5 draft pick which was (stolen) from the Mets.Next #1 catcher. Nats trade for Ramos new #1. Now Suzuki. New #1. Give the man some slack. $875000 is great, but it's got to hurt. Ask John.

Sounding like the A's fans who think they might get David Wright on a waiver deal … I think the Nats do well with a young guns ensemble approach versus having a hugely paid star pitcher … or star pitchers. Let's see how these pitchers do with an excellent defensive catcher … perhaps it will give them a late season boost. And it looks like that is how the Nats are going to try to do it. They are going to go after young, controllable pitching with as much ceiling and potential as they can get.

Flores looks like he's been beaten down by this season. Not sure if that wouldn't affect his pitch calling but it may. He definitely needs a break without all the pot stirring by the Rocket and his source[s].

Let's hope Suzuki has one of those "I'm happy to be here" games tonight. Jordan can handle another new catcher but I am afraid that he might be too strong from the rest and his sinker won't sink. Not sure how I feel about the sudden spate of Flores bashing.It's certainly not necessary to justify the trade.Hope it stops, because it doesn't sounds like our organization.

NatsLady, Espi would be the PTBNLFor Felix? You're dreaming Ghost, it would have to be a very young player with the initials BH. That I believe would get that trade to actually happen. Are you willing to give up a future potential McCutchen like bat? I wouldn't.

Have to wonder if the other players would be dishing on Flores if he had handled the news more professionally.Please to explain how he could have handled the news any more professionally than he did. After being blindsided by the press for his reaction, he basically said "I didn't know. I'm surprised. No comment beyond that." How is that not professional? He said nothing bad about anyone, be it his fellow players or the front office. Also, it appears as if Spanish-speaker James Wagner of the Post is the one who confronted him, so the conversation may well have been in Spanish and the tone of it came out different in the translation.

Not sure how I feel about the sudden spate of Flores bashing.It's certainly not necessary to justify the trade.Hope it stops, because it doesn't sounds like our organization.No one but Ladson is doing it. And he is passing it on from his source[s]. I believe him and I believe the source[s] might feel that way. But they are not the entire Nats organization. Before I would even go near that, Bill, I would have first asked Randy Knorr what his opinion is. He is the top defacto catching expert in the organization as far as I can tell.I should think Bill should have kept silent … and it could be a precursor to a followup trade of Flores to an interested party. I have observed these sort of scathing criticism from Bill's sources just before trades or releases.

NatsJack, yes, on the King. Verlander is real close. I'd take Felix since I think he would excel with this team. Nobody thought they would trade Pineda and I know there were conversations with 2 teams and believe one of them was Nats.

Please to explain how he could have handled the news any more professionally than he did. Nah, I've wasted enough of my day explaining things to you pRAA. If you disagree, fine. I don't have a problem with that. Besides, I'm headed to the game.

Let's hope Solano gets well and improves his catching skills … and Leon shows some marked improvement from his major league exposure. Suzuki was of immense help to Derrick Norris. I expect he will be there for those two and Flores.

Peric, well said. He should know better to keep it in-house but I heard it several times. What does Davey do when a pitcher constantly demands another catcher.The loss of Ramoose is huge. Suzuki hopefully will be a good bridge to next year.Again, Flores is a good option as #2 catcher.

Zimm will be fine with a new catcher, he knows his own stuff and he knows the Marlins (except the call-ups). As was mentioned above,I would worry more about (a) his shoulder; (b) whether the extra rest will affect his sinker. This is when RZ or Werth or ALR or some other team leader should step in and tell the pitchers to shut up.

Peric at 5:06, he will be traded. He has 2 years left and goes from 12.5 million to $19.5 next year. They won't get BH nor would they get Trout. They could get Rendon. Probably won't happen now but will happen this Winter.

MLB guys did another one of their IF Stephen Strasburg is shut down WHATEVER will the Nats do? stories. So tired of it. Then they proceeded to show a graphic that the other four rank 1st in mlb in most areas. Never mentioned Lannan, who pitched yesterday and is 2-0 in his calls ups. They are usually a little better than the four letter network, but this is getting old.

swami @ 5:24,Fair enough. Although anything I say tends to end up in a double-cross (including my golf swing), so perhaps that means the jinx is somehow reversed. Or something like that.Speaking of golf, am I the only one (probably) who sees a bit of Fred Couple's easy, free-flowing swing and languid approach to the game in Adam LaRoche? Yes, they play different sports and there's the righty-lefty difference, but both step up to the ball/plate so nonchalantly, hit the ball almost peacefully, then proceed to watch it fly so well and so far.

Section 222 said… Please to explain how he could have handled the news any more professionally than he did. Nah, I've wasted enough of my day explaining things to you pRAA. If you disagree, fine. I don't have a problem with that. Besides, I'm headed to the game.I'm not disagreeing. I'm asking. Why is everything an argument with you?

NatsJack, how many times have I written since Flores had taken over about his play calling and setup?Gio never complained but have to wonder if Gio suggested Suzuki or was it Davey.Getting a veteran plateminder was a top priority.Unfortunately JFlo has been hurt in the process and Ladson was unclassy as ever.

I seem to remember a time when everyone was calling for Ramos to be the back up and Flo to take over. hmmmm. Short memories. I am sensing a new hard ball, hard a#$ attitude in the organization. We are hearing "performance determines playing time",( except for Danny), and "they are big boys". Public statements being made. Are these messages all for Flores or is there a general message being sent right now? Was Flores exhibit A? Produce and do it our way or you can be replaced? I don't think the Nats have played well on this home stand. 2-3 vs. terrible teams. Is this a wake up call? Step it up?

EugeneInteresting comparison – I think it's true about ALR at the plate, and also in the field (tho I don't suppose that has a comparison to golf). On plays where he's fielded a ball or is getting back to 1B to receive a throw from the pitcher, he never seems rushed or anxious. Sometimes he seems to be taking it so easy I wonder if he'll beat the runner – and he always does.

If you don't consider anything else at all – Flores has been beaten up a lot. Catching an entire staff that throws power stuff and ungodly breaking stuff – plus ( gulp) HRod? Add to that the number of times he has been hit. He probably has bruises that won't fade until the off season. If Suzuki is the high-character guy everyone says he is, he will make it his business to make Flores his ally as soon as possible. Flo knows lots of stuff Kurt needs to know. He will probably understand the dynamics and tread tactfully. You know, if Suzuki can straighten out Gio, he will be worth having. Gio has been struggling for a while now. Not the whole game, but he gets ADD innings.

baseballswami, sports is very reactionary which is why the game thread is painful at times.I remember a frequent poster in April that said EJax should be tied up longterm instead if JZim. The rationale was EJax was a better pitcher. It was written after a good EJax start which was a game after a JZim so-so start.People were talking trash about Ramoose after the HenRod wild pitch in the Dodgers series. It was ridiculous then and again some don't understand the game. They watch but don't see it which is fine but the knee-jerk reactions sometimes just make for mostly bad posts.

Section 222 said… Why is everything an argument with you? It's not, except with you. Hmm, wonder why that is. I just express my opinions. You like to pick fights. To each his own.Again, how is asking you a simple question "picking a fight"? I really am curious how Flores could possibly have been any more professional in that situation than he was. Seems to me he did everything right. But, as you often say, I could be wrong. Enlighten me.

Saw the Giants had 70th birthday celebration for Jerry Garcia on the 1st, while playing the Mets. They gave out Jerry Garcia bobbleheads.We get Healthcare Night there on the 14th. Do they give out syringes.Nice start Zimm.

Solano slid as late as possible, forcing the errant throw from Danny. That's quite a risk on Solano's part — he could have ended with an Espi fastball from 10 feet away in his face. I bet Ozzie loves that kind of stuff.

SteveM said "two runs and both are probably earned…"==========================I think it's just one earned, but I don't think Bob Carpenter's explanation was correct. Because you can't assume a double play, Carlos Lee would have been on third after the fielder's choice, while Gorkys Hernandez would have been on first. John Buck's double would have scored Mr. Lee as an earned run; the official scorer probably couldn't assume that Mr. Hernandez would score from first on a double. At least, that's my take.

I'm with you, Ghost. It's 2012 or bust with Davey. And I don't blame him a bit. He's in first place, he's got the horses, and he's 69. When you're 69, there is no five-year plan. For anything.Just win, baby.

mick, outside of the first half of last year and a couple of spurts Danny hasn't shown he can hit. He doesn't need consistency; he needs a new approach at the plate. I know chicks dig the long ball but Nats fans would love to see more singles and less swing for the fences K's. His rate of striking out has risen all 3 years instead of getting better; clearly the rest of the league also sees the gigantic holes in his swing and the lack of adjustment by Danny. Lets hope he gets it – soon – and then we can think about him being an all star.

Eugene, correct. They didn't consider the runner on 1st would have scored on the double. The official scorer had them both earned and changed it shortly afterwards.Fact is, spotty defense and a 3-1 deficit.

So far tonight, in addition to his usual banalities, Bob has given us the wrong score (3-0 when it was actually 3-1) and other major verbal jammage.It's only a matter of time before he calls the Marlins the Mets – again.

Exposremains said… I wonder how annoying of an opponent Reyes is. The smiling, the gestures, all the little things. Personally it really bothers me.No worse than Bonifacio (jerk). At least Reyes has talent.

@NatsJack: If Espi's fielding suffers, then we're in deep. He's leading the league in strikeouts. Judging from tonight's performance, he's trying to do the same in errors. Don't know if you're listening to FP where you are, but FP actually broke down Espi's latest throwing error very well. Said it was because he dropped down sidearm. You can get away with that at 2B, because it's a short throw. But at SS, that kind of motion leads to erratic throws because of the greater distance. Makes sense. I can kinda give the guy a pass because he's played 2B his entire big league career. But as I said, if his fielding goes south, then his contribution becomes nil. Because he's not doing much of anything at the plate…except swinging at All Those Sliders in the Dirt.

As I posted yesterday, Espinosa is hard to watch at the plate in his slump. Now he is also hard to watch as he loses concentration in the field. Having him as the lead-off hitter is madness.Davey needs to sit him until he gets his head straight. The "play him regardless" strategy worked the first time around but we are in a pennant race now and you cant invest August into the unqualified support strategy.Richard Moore

Trouble.No one noticing Harper who rarely gets it out of the infield anymore — and heading for .240. hasnt hit a homer in over a month — and, quite frankly, looks tires and weak.Espi? what can you say: Hot for two weeks and back to his old ways. 1 for his last 34. and five errors now at SS. Not good. Team is poised for a major slump.

Anyway you put — as positive as you want to be:Suzuki ain't all that much. A catcher who is barely hitting his weight — can't possibly handle this staff better than Flo — I will bet many of the players have a slight attitude as to how the trade was handled. and not to tell Flo, and to let the media tell him, well, thats shameful. You are a decent GM, Rizzo, but surely you are a Class A A-Hole.

Harper can't get the ball out of the infield. There is real trouble there.Espinoza takes yet another ball down the middle. He is now 1 for his last 34. There is real trouble there.Karma is a Bitch, Rizzo. Nats officially in Slump.

NatsJack: yep, Davey is a nice guy — Until he needs to tell a player bad news. Then Davey is just as big an A-Hole as Rizzo is — maybe worse — because Davey wants to be the nice guy, and Rizzo doesnt give a hoot.Rememeber when Davey waited until the middle of game to tell Lannan — while sitting on the bench!!) that he was going down to Syracuse? Now, Davey fails to inform Flo — the loyal trooper flo — that he had just lost his job. Yeah, Real nice guy.

Been said before but rizzo would make everybody a favor by getting a stabilizing force for the middle infield. It will not affect the chemistry. I think gio showed yesterday that there is frustration on the team with espinosa.

All I can say NatsFanSinceStart …..this isn't Little League….Getting told you're getting sent down is nothing like getting told your out of a job and going on unemployment.And the Braves have lost to the Astros.

For all those who feel Flores should sulk because he wasn't told wake up. What is better, to wait until after the games or do it before. Would telling him earlier make it OK for him to return to the bench? Its too bad a reporter told him but he's a big boy.Bottom line if he was producing then Kurt will still be in Oakland. Not telling him sooner doesn't change that at all.

I'm just reading the posts here from the last 20 minutes. You would think several of you you guys are passionate Nats haters, all the venom I'm reading. I haven't been participating very long, but the negativity for a first-place club is so great, I'm very tempted to stop reading and go elsewhere again. Not that you all would miss me, I know, but my gosh, I'm on this site for insight and support, not venom and negativity.Incredible win, by the way!

Well, going on vacation I had to sell my tix and give my Picnic in the Park passes to a work friend who will now owe me big time nonetheless… BUT am very glad I decided to buy a month of MLBTV before I left so I could see almost the whole unbelievable thing from Grand Manan Island up here in the Bay of Fundy (almost because the wifi kept cutting in and out the whole game, but fortunately stayed intact for all the RBI hits in the rally except Lombo's).To be honest, the cheering fans in the eighth nearly made me feel I was there, except of course for the exhilaration of seeing the hits and dingers find open space….